Page 70 of Alpha Awakening
“Well, you thought wrong.”
Blake laughed at their bickering. “Don’t mess with my woman.”
“And here I thought you would have my back,” Bear grumbled.
“I couldn’t even if I wanted to, which I don’t because I love a strong woman who can take care of herself.”
Niev blushed, turned to him, and stretched to kiss his cheek.
“Someone’s gonna have a good night,” Bear chuckled. “So, when are you two leaving us?”
“We don’t really have a date yet. Probably next week. We still have to pack up. Ann and Kareem will come help us with the drive.”
Then, Bear did something Blake didn’t expect. He pulled Niev into a tight hug and kissed her head. It was more on the brotherly side, but Blake–or his wolf, rather–couldn’t help but growl, disapproving of another man touching what was his.
Bear only laughed and let go of Niev. “Oh someone’s wolf is getting the better of him! Don’t like others touching her anymore, huh?”
“Guess the pregnancy hormones are not just affecting me,” Niev giggled, soothingly running her fingers over Blake’s arm. “It’s okay, I’m all yours.”
“Sorry.”
“And within a heartbeat the big bad wolf turns into a sweet little puppy,” Bear teased. “Jokes aside, I will miss you two. You, my lovely wolf slayer, more than the puppy over there.” Bear winked at Niev. “Let me know when you two are ready to pack up so I can help you.”
“Thank you, we will,” Niev promised.
“Well, only if you can keep your possessive puppy on a leash.” Bear laughed and waved at them before walking off.
Niev giggled and held on to his arm. “I like this possessive side of you.”
“I just hope I can keep my wolf under lock and key. He’s getting more protective of you every day and I don’t know how he’s gonna be when you are nine months along.”
“If he rips anyone apart, I promise to fix them up again.”
Stepping onto their clearing, they saw that Katharina and Clarence had already arrived. It was a sweet little gathering with people coming by here and there to congratulate the couple. No one stayed longer than a few minutes, but it seemed as if the pack wanted to say their blessings without overwhelming Olivia.
In a quiet moment Tristan leaned closer to Blake, with a pleased smile. “I think this is your mother’s doing.”
“I was thinking the same.”
“I’ll thank her as soon as I get the chance.”
“I’m not sure if she’ll admit her involvement,” Blake chuckled.
“She probably won’t. I will truly miss you two, you know? I was just getting used to you being part of the pack again and now you’re leaving already. Olivia has been sad as well. She really likes Niev, and I think without her she wouldn’t have opened up as much as she has.”
Blake’s heart felt as if it were bleeding. Leaving Tristan behind was like leaving his only brother. Of course, that wasn’t true because Seth was his brother, but Tristan had been the one by his side through all his dark times.
“I wish I didn’t have to choose between leaving everything behind and taking what I’ve always longed for. I was just settling in–so was Niev. I never even wanted this, never even dreamed about it. But now that it has been offered, I can’t say no. I’m alpha, and my wolf won’t let me step away from this and honestly, I don’t want to.”
“Look, you don’t have to justify yourself to me. I get it and I don’t want you to think I’m telling you this to guilt trip you. I know how much you have held back over the years and I’m happy that you can become alpha without us having to bury Seth’s body somewhere.” He chuckled before turning serious again. “I know, bad joke.”
“At least I now know who to call if I ever have to get rid of a body.”
“And here I thought you knew all along that I have your back no matter what.”
They both laughed and Blake bumped his fist into Tristan’s arm. “Thank you. This means the world to me.”
“Well, I’m hoping we now have a vacay home for the summers. I mean with me being the alpha’s best friend I’m hoping for spa treatment.”